REGULATORY ASSETS (Details) - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	$ 3,636,000	$ 4,176,000
Period over which depreciation and salary study expenses amortized	5 years
Period over which Delaware rate proceedings and applications expenses amortized	two and a half
Period over which Maryland rate proceedings and applications expenses amortized	5 years
Period over which goodwill amortized	50 years
Period over which Port Deposit and Cecil County deferred acquisition costs amortized	20 years
Period over which Cecil County deferred franchise costs amortized	80 years
Artesian Water contributed to its postretirement benefit plan	$ 66,000
Maximum [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period of debt issuance costs	30 years
Minimum [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period of debt issuance costs	10 years
Postretirement Benefit Obligation [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	$ 329,000	329,000
Debt Issuance Costs [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	1,656,000	1,747,000
Deferred Income Taxes [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	435,000	446,000
Goodwill [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	312,000	318,000
Deferred Acquisition and Franchise Costs [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	692,000	720,000
Expense of Rate and Regulatory Proceedings [Member]
Regulatory Assets [Line Items]
Regulatory assets, net	$ 212,000	$ 616,000